The Shaykh’s talk on the calamity of seeking the aid of disbelievers against Iraq, and also clarifying Iraq’s error in occupying Kuwait.

The Shaykh : The truth is that we do not know of a similar calamity in Islamic history, because it entered every home and struck every Muslim. If it affected them in one corner, it affected them in the second and third, and so on, except for those whom Allah protected, and they are few. When Iraq took over Kuwait, the Muslims divided themselves into two groups: one group that praised its action, and one group that held a grudge against it. Then came the other, greater fitnah: Saudi Arabia seeking the aid of disbelievers. The most dangerous of the disbelievers for the Muslims are the Jews, or if you wish, the Americans, because the Americans equate with the Jews, and the Jews equate with the Americans, and this is clear to all. When the Saudis also sought the aid of these disbelievers, the people again divided into two groups. Whether it was the first division or the second, it was mostly tribal, meaning that tribalism and personal interest were taken into account. Most of those who were neighbors to Iraq lined up with Iraq. You needed a long and detailed discussion to make the committed Muslim youth understand that this aggression is not permissible in Islam. And this was not with the nationalists, the Ba'athists, or the communists, but with the committed youth, some of whom claim to adhere to the Book and the Sunnah. So the matter required a long and detailed discussion, and it was barely possible to convince them, even after a long time, that this is truly an aggression and an injustice that is not permissible. On the contrary, it is very difficult to make any Saudi understand that their government’s seeking the aid of disbelievers—who are the most bitter enemies of Islam and Muslims, and who have established security and stability for the Jews in Palestine—and calling them friends, is contrary to the Shari'ah. Now, take people with these and people with those, and the division intensified. In the end, Iraq was left alone, finding no supporter from the Muslim nations. It found individuals who are of no benefit or harm, but the governments joined the disbelievers. Instead of joining the Muslim people, no one joined them. The outcome was that defeat struck the Iraqis. And this does not affect them alone, but it affects all Arab countries first, and then all Muslim countries second, because this defeat enabled the disbelievers to implement what they had declared during the battles: imposing a new order on the Middle East. Therefore, as individual Muslims, we must turn to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and repent to Him of our sins and disobedience, and He should inspire us to prepare psychologically and materially to fight the enemies of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) who have settled in the sacred lands and raised the banner of the cross next to the banner of tawhid (the oneness of Allah). This is among the ill omens of seeking the aid of disbelievers.

The questioner : I mean, it is permissible to fight them...

The Shaykh : And a third and fourth, but may Allah reward you, where are the fighters?!

The questioner : Even if the ruler does not implement the law of Allah?

The Shaykh : I am telling you: where are the fighters?! Do not imagine that you and I can do anything. We need a Muslim state. You are living now, and all Muslims today live under governments that do not rule by what Allah has revealed. Individuals cannot do anything, because I said earlier: preparation, both psychological and material, is necessary. By psychological, I mean Islamic upbringing. And material preparation is known: we need weapons. Individuals do not possess weapons. And perhaps Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will inspire one of these Muslim states to return to its Lord, to review itself, and to follow its soundness by making the Book of its Lord the criterion, so that all Muslims will be with them.